Alan has delivered his “Resilience” Keynote to universities, elite sports organizations, and businesses around the world: including recent collaborations with the Philadelphia Union and Philadelphia Phillies.
During this engaging 60-minute session, Alan shares key lessons from his personal mental health journey, detailing why he became the first active elite athlete in Ireland’s premier Gaelic Football league to speak publicly about experiencing depression. He blends this lived experience with his professional expertise to demonstrate how developing resilience in practical, strategic ways helps individuals lead healthier lives and achieve peak performance.
Alan is a former elite athlete, an experienced Head Coach, and works as a Team Resilience Coach in elite sports. He also served as a player welfare leader for Ireland’s largest players’ union, the Gaelic Players Association. In 2016, he published his best-selling memoir, The Best Is Yet To Come.
Keynote Overview
- The Blueprint: Key lessons from Alan’s elite sports and mental health journey.
- Mental Skills: Developing resilience as a proactive mental skill in sports and academics.
- The Toolbox: Practical, daily habits that helped Alan get well and stay well.
- Promoting a Culture of Care: Navigating vulnerability, reaching out for help, and effectively supporting teammates who are struggling.
- Interactive Q&A: An open forum for student-athletes and staff.
To book Alan for your athletic department, orientation week, or campus speaker series, please email: alan@realtalks.ie
Testimonials
“Alan visited our school and instantly struck a chord with our pupils. His recollections of real life experiences were funny, harrowing, insightful and refreshingly honest. His openness with our students encouraged more students to come forward and discuss their mental health than ever before. It’s important that we are proactive about mental health and involve vibrant people like Alan to help our young people chart a path through difficult times.”
Mickey Donnelly, Teacher in St. Ronan’s, Lurgan
Organizations Alan has collaborated with include…
Aer Lingus, Allied Irish Bank, Athlone IT SU, Barnardos, Blackrock College, Cavan GAA, Cavan County Council, Cornmarket, Cycle Against Suicide, Donegal Sports Partnership, Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education, Gaelic Players Association, Gaelic Athletic Association, Gaisce, HSE, Inspire Wellbeing, Jacobs Engineering, Kelly Bradshaw Dalton, Manhattanville University, Monaghan County Council, Philadelphia Union Foundation, Pieta House, PJ Hegarty & Sons, SOSAD Ireland, Terenure College, Zeminar